Firewater’s sixth record (and first in four years) leaves behind the Eastern Euro-Klezmer sound of previous efforts in favor of a distinctly Middle Eastern flavored music recorded, often with local musicians, during front man Tod A’s 3 year sojourn through India, Pakistan, Israel & Turkey. Tod’s darkly humorous appreciation of both the beauty and ugliness of life is in full force and the production from long time drummer Tamir Muskat (now also in Balkan Beat Box) is fabulous. Possibly Firewater’s strongest work.
Firewater are currently touring Europe in support of The Golden Hour which comes out May 6 on Bloodshot Records. A US tour starts in late May and pulls into the Bottom Of The Hill on June 6. You can hear a stream of the new record on either their myspace page or their website.
For a more in depth look at Tod A’s 3 year journey check out his blog Postcards from the Other Side of the World or this brief “making of” video:
North American Tour dates:
5/23 Boston, MA – Paradise
5/24 Brooklyn, NY – Southpaw
5/25 Philadelphia, PA – North Star
5/26 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
5/28 Toronto, Ontario – Horseshoe Tavern
5/29 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
5/30 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
5/31 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
6/03 Seattle, WA – Chop Suey
6/04 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
6/06 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
6/07 West Hollywood, CA – The Roxy Theatre
6/08 San Diego, CA – Casbah
6/09 Tucson, AZ – Plush
6/11 Fort Worth, TX – Lola’s
6/12 Austin, TX – Emo’s Lounge
6/13 New Orleans, LA – House of Blues Parish
6/14 Atlanta, GA – The Earl
6/15 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
6/16 Washington, DC – Black Cat Backstage
6/17 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
get down with your funky ass world music knowledge self